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We all wear badges, and do the same kind of work. Its what you want to be most of all. The answer is in your question, its a State, or a Local officer!

Let me add this: local agencies seem to have a higher percentage of problem children (i.e. morons, a$$es, etc) than the state does. Training can be a little harder for our state guys but part of that is a live-in academy v. going home at night.....

magnet says ...

Let me add this: local agencies seem to have a higher percentage of problem children (i.e. morons, a$$es, etc) than the state does. Training can be a little harder for our state guys but part of that is a live-in academy v. going home at night.....

W.T.F. is the deal with this answer?  local agencies have a "higher percentage of problem children" -  are you referring to officers at local departments being problem children?  i believe you need to clerify that answer becuase i take offense to it and it really pisses me off!  most of the locat (city) and county officers here attend the same damn academy and even though it was within 5 miles of my home, i dont believe i went home one single damn night when the academy was going on.  your answer here definitely needs to be explained!

States vary, I'm not from your state. In my state we have the same duties and responsibilities as city but we don't enforce city ordinances. I won't comment on magnets answer because we have our own issues in our agency. You can't weed them all out in the hiring process some you have to get to as they show their true colors. Ilike my agency just because of the size of jurisdictional boundaries, I like to spread my wings.

hcgale says ...

magnet says ...

Let me add this: local agencies seem to have a higher percentage of problem children (i.e. morons, a$$es, etc) than the state does. Training can be a little harder for our state guys but part of that is a live-in academy v. going home at night.....

W.T.F. is the deal with this answer?  local agencies have a "higher percentage of problem children" -  are you referring to officers at local departments being problem children?  i believe you need to clerify that answer becuase i take offense to it and it really pisses me off!  most of the locat (city) and county officers here attend the same damn academy and even though it was within 5 miles of my home, i dont believe i went home one single damn night when the academy was going on.  your answer here definitely needs to be explained!

Same traffic! I beileve this magnet is not a cop. The line about a live in academy is way off base, also. Our state has live in type academies for the outlying areas that would have to drive 100-200 miles each way to attend. They go home on weekends or pay the extra for a motel. I know plenty of people that have done it this way

Also, the big difference around here (Arizona) between Staties and the locals is that states work primarily traffic with MVA's thrown in for a little extra measure. The city and cnty types have to deal with "incorrigible kids", DV's ,etc. and other assorted "non traffic issues' to name just a few. Our DPS spends the majority of their time patrolling the freeways and, obviously, state highways.

One more item: Dumbasses come from ALL walks of life! Anyone that is bold enough to make such a biased statement is not very credible with anything, and is themself, a F**king Dumbass!

This idiot is just trying to get under our skin, Oh I'll be 10-42 and 10-7 have a nice day!

In Maryland, the duties for Maryland State Police (MSP) depend on the barracks you are assigned.  Most work primarily highway and traffic enforcement while the county police handle calls for service and investigations.  That being said, you still have opportunities for investigation in MSP and they have all types of units.  I work for a county police department and we work closely with the barracks in our area on a lot of traffic stops.  The biggest part is where you are going to work.  In MSP they can send you to any barrack from the Eastern Shore to the western mountains.  Each having its' own opportunity and challenges. In my county there are two stations and I know the community and the people.  As far as pay, they are pretty close and we go through the same training as MSP. 

KSP494 says ...

This is why it's important to find out the rules in your state. Here our State Police is a full service agency. Our mission is to assist where there is little to no law enforcement. We aren't Highway Patrol we take regular calls for rapes, domestics, thefts, etc...etc...some states don't. We are just like a giant city police agency. Our academy is live in we go home on weekends. I can't speak for the other academies but I believe they may go home at night if they live close enough. We have 4 academies in the state.

Exactly. Even in agency, there may be a large discrepancy in what you may do. Most of the troopers in the Minnesota State Patrol strictly work the highways. However, they have units that provide Capitol/dignatary protection, crime scene units and investigators, swat teams that provide support for the outlying areas. But for the most part, they take highway calls and assist with crashes.

magnet says ...

Let me add this: local agencies seem to have a higher percentage of problem children (i.e. morons, a$$es, etc) than the state does. Training can be a little harder for our state guys but part of that is a live-in academy v. going home at night.....

I think he was referring to "problem children" as the people that Town Police have to deal with on a daily basis. We deal with the same people day in and day out based on the fact we cover a smaller area then the State or County Police. We get to know people on a more personal level due to the fact they are often dealing with the same Police Officer whenever they have a problem. I have this very same issue where I work.

Anyway's, some clarification on your comment would be nice magnet. If you meant to say that smaller agencies have more "problem Officers" then you need to be counseled on that. I went to the same academy as everyone else!! Except the State, they have there own Academy, but it's the same bootcamp nightmare that all the other ones are.

Take a good look at both, then YOU decide which one because no matter what everyone will tell you, yuo have to do what will make you HAPPY

dewood,  here's a link that should add to your confusion. But it will give you a little more insight on some other states and even Canada.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-86218.html

Over 25 years ago, my friend was on a local Town PD and was called up to enter the NY State Police Academy.  He asked my opinion.  He currently went to his PD's top pay scale after five years - we took twenty.  He lived 3 miles from work - I was stationed 42 miles from home (at the time). He would have to go to the Academy all over again (the State Police didn't credit municiple police training). He would compete with 50 people for promotion - I would have a couple of thousand.  -- Need I say more.  He stayed on the Town PD.  I have no regrets on joining my agency and he has told me, he has no regrets about staying with his.  Good luck in your decision. There are many fine agencies out there. The choice is yours.

Okay for you that need clarification: The academies here are "basically" the same with the exception that we only have one live on acad. that I am aware of and that is the state's for state officers. All the rest go to the regional academies that are usually fairly close to most (i.e. we have 3 within an hours drive) agencies. I have a partner who went to the state run acad. and ours and he said the state run acad. was harder but that was partly because he was not home and partly because they had longer during the day to screw with you. The state Troopers here (for the most part) deal with traffic and crashes and do not deal with as many problems or problem children as the locals. This is my experience in MY area. We handle the majority of issues with the exception of the interstate but this may be different in the rural areas.

If you have issues with my statement by all means PM me and I will be happy to explain my reasoning/experiences. If you find it offensive I can only state that it is my opinion and you do not have to accept it or like it, it's just mine.

magnet says ...

Okay for you that need clarification: The academies here are "basically" the same with the exception that we only have one live on acad. that I am aware of and that is the state's for state officers. All the rest go to the regional academies that are usually fairly close to most (i.e. we have 3 within an hours drive) agencies. I have a partner who went to the state run acad. and ours and he said the state run acad. was harder but that was partly because he was not home and partly because they had longer during the day to screw with you. The state Troopers here (for the most part) deal with traffic and crashes and do not deal with as many problems or problem children as the locals. This is my experience in MY area. We handle the majority of issues with the exception of the interstate but this may be different in the rural areas.

If you have issues with my statement by all means PM me and I will be happy to explain my reasoning/experiences. If you find it offensive I can only state that it is my opinion and you do not have to accept it or like it, it's just mine.

Thanks for the clarification. Stay safe!! 10-8

Here the academy for Troopers is longer and more stringent.  Pretty much basic training style and they live on site.  I guess there's prestige and the take home car is great and all but all they do around here is write tickets and handle traffic accidents.  Particularly the guys assigned to the outskirts of Atlanta where full service Sheriff's departments don't work their own and the Troopers have to do it for them.   I think I shocked the shit out of a Trooper one day when I took an accident scene from him on the interstate.  He was used to having to work wrecks for counties that only had S.O. and not county P.D.   I considered transferring to the State but I can't afford a 30,000 dollar pay cut.

http://www.copcareer.com/academy/policeacademy.htm

xcopper3 says ...

You may want to ask your local officers or Troopers...It varies everywhere...In my part of VA Troopers worked the highways and locals too the calls for service...Very rarely ran across a State Trooper in my entire career...

That's due in part because Tidewater has so many Interstates down there! Normally, in Metro areas with Interstates, VSP handles the interstates and stays out of the cities unless requested. Like KSP said about Ky, we can enforce everything but county ordinances, but we don't tread on anothers turf with being invited. I always liked working the rural areas, we work hand in hand with SO's and PD's alike. We are basically an assist agency here too. Most locales have local 911 centers so calls are also forwarded thru them esp if it relates to traffic. But if it's busy, we all roll up our sleeves and get the job done. One of the things I loved most about my job was the camaraderie with everyone. I, like KSP, like to spead my wings, and when things like the shipyard Strike, Floodings, Coal Strikes, we always knew as long as it was in Va, we'd be there.